Cirque Du Soleil - Varekai, Metro Radio Arena Newcastle

FINDING an adjective that hasn't already been used to describe Cirque Du Soleil is pointless.

Over the years, every superlative known to man has been uttered by those who have witnessed such shows as Mystere and O.

I have seen the latter two under the lights in Las Vegas and, while a February night in Newcastle might not have the same allure of the Nevada casino strip, the feeling of awe and wonderment on leaving the venue was exactly the same.

Varekai - translated as 'wherever' - uses the story of Icarus as its basis, or at least what happened to him after he had fallen to earth.

Woven in between are spectacular feats of human strength, endeavour and endurance, gymnastic sequences that leave you breathless and dance pieces that tug at the heart-strings.

There is no shortage of humour either, with comedic sketches as a part of the main script and used as interludes to allow for costume changes and so forth.

The whole show, save for a 20-minute break, is utterly seamless from start to end, with even set alterations forming part of the proceedings, so much so that, at times, you hardly notice one piece of apparatus leaving and another taking its place.

Varekai, with its beautifully tailored outfits, quirky characters and stunning musical performances, is a show that will delight audiences young and old. But don't just take my word for it, go and see for yourself.

BLOB Varekai runs until Sunday.